Friday, January 7, 2011

Looking for a Second Job

By Carlos Jonston


Applying for a second job while currently employed is what is referred to as moonlighting. There was once a time when moonlighting was employed only by underpaid employees and those who were cash strapped. These days, some people consider modeling as a second career; check with a reputable licensed modeling agency too see if this might be an option for you -- but watch out for those who just want your money!

Today, however, people from all fields and income brackets and successful professionals now resort to moonlighting in order to supplement what they're earning. Getting second jobs is now becoming popular mostly because commitment is not as stringent as their day time jobs while at the same time acquiring a new skill or gaining new knowledge becomes an advantage for one's career. Moonlighting was once restricted by employers but now, employees are even encouraged to work on the side.

In spite of all these, moonlighting cannot be for everyone. Before making up your mind, you should first weigh the advantages and disadvantages that to you will affect your decision.

Most people also think that having a second job provides some sense of employment security. The scenario is that most professionals feel that their full time job is unstable, thus they look for a second job that will act as their back-up in case the first one falls through. Meanwhile, having a second job reaps different psychological benefits that include the thinking that the employee is not bound to his first job.

Another worthwhile advantage is that having a second job gives you the opportunity to take on different fields. If you think of switching careers but are afraid of pursuing it, a part-job will be one way of testing if you're prepared to make the shift or not.

Most employers might also demand more of your time. Because they know of your second job, they might bring up exclusivity in information and with you. It may even come to a point where they will insist that they have intellectual property rights over your way of thinking and knowledge.

One of the reasons why employers discourage second jobs is the fear that their employees will burn out resulting to less, if not unsatisfactory work performance output. We cannot argue the fact that there are companies out there who demand more than the time allotted for them, even during off hours. This does not discount the fact that people get easily irritated when they lack sleep or are stressed. Meanwhile, having a second job can also lead to employer irritation in a way that gets them thinking that they're not paying you enough.

Considering all these, having a second job is not as bad as it might look. Everything will turn out fine as long as you reduce the risk of a burnout or perhaps even a conflict of interest. If your company has policies on moonlighting, try to know what these are. Supplementing your income is not a big deal but you should also think about the risks involved as well as the sacrifices you have to make.




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